Strip forming apparatus



c.. NoRToN K 2,384,485

Sept-11, 1945.

Filed Apri;y 23. 1942 Sept. ll, 1945. c. NORTON STRIP FORMING APPARATUS F115@ April 25, 1942 3 YSheets-Sheet '2 Sept. l1, 1945. Q NORTQN 2,384,485

STRIP FORMING APPARATUS Filed April `:25, 1942 s sheets-sheet s Y Patented Sept. 11, 1945 Calhoun Norton,

Chicago, 1114,. assgnor. to Arens44 Controls, Inc., Chicago, I'll'.,

a corporation of ApplicatiunfApx-iiza, 1942, seriamente- (cn resa-evi' l 22 Claims.

This invention relates to strip" forming apparatus such, for example, asapparatusfor` coiling wire and the like.

It isfan object of the invention to provide strip forming apparatus of improved construction and operating: characteristics, the invention having particular application to apparatus of. the type wherein the metal strip, which may comprise a wire orthe like, is coiled or otherwise formed about an elongated mandrel More specifically; one-f the objects of the pres'- ent invention is to'provide improved controlstructures for apparatus of the type defined, which control structures include means for automatically disabling the operating mechanism of the machine at the end' of the processing operation and Valso in the event of improper operation ofi the strip feeding means or in the .event the' tension within the strip exceeds a predetermined amount.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for feeding the' metal strip-to be formed to the forming station, whereby t'oimpart to the strip more uniform tension at all times, and thereby improving the uniformity and quality of' thev processedy structures.

A still further obl-ject of the `invention is to i provide improved support means for themandiel and for the processed structures whereby to permit the fabrication ofthe strip into long lengths and into structures of uniform characteristicsand quality.'

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will appear from. the following specication when taken in' connection with the accompanying drawings wherein certain preferredr embodiments are set forth' for' purposes of' illustration.

In the drawings, wherein like reference numer-als refer to like parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is a general assembly view in perspective of a metal strip forming apparatus, specifically in the form of a wirecoiling'machine, constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the structure' shown in Fig. l, more particularly illustrating portions of the head frame structure;

Fig. 3 is ay diagrammatic view illustrating the character ofl the work adapted to be performed by the machine;

Fig. 4' is a detail, perspective view of the tra-veling carriage or stripfabricating structure;

Fig. 5 is a detail, perspective-view illustrating a latch member associated with the cut-off means of'thecarriage;

. 1Big..6isa transverse; sectional view through the eamagestructune om the line 6--6 of Fig. 4', particularly' illustrating the means for' feeding thastriptothe forming. station;y

f Eig* 'Il isi a` transverse. sectional view through the carriagezon theline 1=1foi`a Fig-:Agand showing the: cutiaoft' mans:

FigLiESis3 af-top view' of; the strucinirey shown in E'i`g;.7f;

Fig. 9 is; al. detaiL. perspective' viewr of a portion on the: machine. bed; showing one .ofi thei mandrel si'ipporing elements;

Fig; 1U is a detailtperspective. of` apart of the strip: feeding means;

Fig; 11v isf a; view illustrating a. modied f crm o1*` framestructure;

` Figs:` 12 andi 13- are-parti'mal views of. the feeding means and.: carriage; respectively, asA adapted for usefwith the-headl'fifamestructure il1ust'rated in FigaI l;l';.an1dv Fig. V14 isi a wiringfdiagram for the structures shown. i'n Figs: 11;. 121and 132vv 'In the-.drawings aY machine for ceiling wire around an elongated mandrel is specifically illustraten; andi certain `fetaures of theiinvention are particularly adaptedfor usel in a machine' of this character. 'It is toi be understood, however, that the' inventionlinlvarious of its aspects is adapted iforrmetallstcip `forming?apparat/us generally, and

apart' from thef specinc" embodiment illustrated, thler'strip'beingof any' desi're'd speciilctype, and fabricated; in anyV desired manner; The 4speciiic machinelllustrated in the drawings comprises an apparatus forV forming: elongatedE wire coil's to be utilized inthe manufacture of flexible transmission' cables, 'either ase shift'aliley transmission coils or 'as sheath*- coils;

Referrlng m'ore'-r particularly" to the drawings, and firstto Figs. 1- and 2thereof', the: structure illustrated'i comprises a head1 frame' generally indicatedrbythewnumerai lo and an emr frame H connected; by"p an elongate'd' bed' lf2. plurality otformingfcarrlages Iii and Hare longitudinally recipro'cable oir-the bed, bet-weenI the head and end. frames;v 'during the operation of the machine. v-

'Morespeciiically-, the head? frame Illy comprises a'- casing i5 housing! af. prime mover in the form or anielectricfmotor Ilifwhich furnishesthe power for driving the".nfiashine. v The-motor yisconn'ect'ed to'. drive-a main drivex shaft IIT which, by means ofa: pair? of' belts or' the like m andf |92 isV` ar'- range'dtd d'rivean upper* stubshaft 20' and a lowerA .stub shaft 211, suitably journaled in the housing". The stulr shai'tt 21|? has aAl pulley wheel the pul1ey.23, the, ,shaft 20 will .be d i'sngaged, from its drivingconnectio'ns. Similarly, the stub-3 shaft 2| carries aV pulley 24 keyed thereto and another pulley 25 loosely mounted thereon, the

belt I9 being shiftable from the pulley 24 to the left as seen in Fig. 2 for engagementlwith'tli'e f idler pulley 25 whereby to* ,connecting connections to the shaft.

drive .'Ijnemea y ing the belts will be hereinafterl described. A chuck 28 is connected to the end of the Shift.-

stub shaft 20, for rotation-therewith."and a' chuck 29 is similarly connected to the stub shaft 2|. These chucks support elongated mandrel Wires 30 and 3| extending .betweenthe head frame and the end frameoflthe machine.` The other ends of the mandrel Vwires are.con nected, respectively, `to lchucks `32 andi33 `carried by the end frame. The endframe. comprises a series of uprights 34 and cross braces' 35,. are ranged to support a pair of plates'v36 and 31 in which the chucks 32 and 33 are loosely mounted. The arrangement is such that as the stub shafts and 2| are driven, the chucks and. mandrels secured thereto will be rotated atrelatively high speed. The chucks are adapted to yreleasably grip the mandrelwires, as Vwill-:be readily' understood, whereby the mandrel wires may be reend of vthe moved for replacement,substitution,'orfor the removal of the fabricated Work therefrom. z

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 .and 9,"it1will be` seen that the bed I2 comprises a series ,of uprights 40, of which anysuitablenumber maybe provided depending upon the length of the bed structure, 1

which, in certain instances, may iextend vfor a distance of a hundred feet `orl more.; .The uprights carry a series of laterallyextending support platforms ,4| forming the supports for a pair of elongated track members 42 and 43 form'- ing a track structure for the upper carriage I3, and a pair of similar track members and 45 forming a track structure for the` lower carriage I4. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 9, each lateral support structure 4|v has associated therewith a mandrel engaging member` 48, pivotally-mounted upon a bracket 49 secured to the support by means of a pivot 5U, and urged yieldingly4 upwardlyby means of a compression springt 5IV supported from a cross brace 52. VThe vpivoted members V48 constitute vibration dampening means forthe mandrel wires, and to that end are -provided with elongated troughs 53 within which the mandrel wires are to be engaged, and with tapered end portions 54 and 55 adapted` to be engaged by= the carriages I3 and I4 in their longitudinal movements. The arrangement is such that normally the members 48 are yieldingly urged .upwardly by their associated springs 5|- into .light engagement with the mandrel wires I3|) and v3|,'-

thereby serving to prevent undue vibrationfof the wires, which vibration'l maywtend to interfere with the fabrication' or forming processes of the machine, particularlyainv 'installations where the mandrels areof"extended length. At

the same time the carriages I3. and I4 ln their longitudinal movements, :and upon' engagement with the tapered portions 54 and- 55 of the members 48, readily move said members downwardly from operative position to permit-*the necessary'- movements of the carriage structures. Limiting ,the same, and a description of one will suflice "'for both. As shown in Fig. 4, the carriage I3 comprisesa base or frame plate 51 having secllled to its lower Vface a pair of angles 58 and 59 Vdapte'd to engage the tracks 42 and 43 to facili- :tate the longitudinal carriage movements. During the strip'lfabrication or specifically the wire coilingv operations, the carriage is moved to the right asseen in Figs. 1 and 4, and the trailing edge of the base plate 51 is provided with a bracket 60 having at its end a trough portion 6| adapted to engage the mandrel and the wire coiled thereon, whereby to dampen mandrel vibration for the reason and in the manner previouslyldiscussed in reference to the vibration damping Vmembers 48 associated with'the bed structure.

In Fig. 4- the metal strip to be fabricated is indicated by the numeral 63, this strip being in the form of a wire to be coiledr around the mandrel 30,v in a particular embodiment of the invention illustrated. The wire 63 is received by thev carriage from the feeding means of the machine, later to be described, first passing through a cutter device to a support pedestal or guide 64, through which it is transmitted toa flexible sheath 65. As best shown in Fig. 6, -this sheath delivers the wire over a pair of guide pins -66 and 61 into the fabricating or forming lixture.,A This fixture comprises a frame member Af8.fixedto the base plate 51 of the carriage, and a. lever member 69 pivotally mounted as indi cated at 1D upon a pair of brackets 1I and 12 secured to the frame member 68. The inner end of the frame member Ii8`carries a forming or vvfabricating jaw 13, and the inner end of the lever l69 similarly carries a fabricating or forming jaw 14. A compression spring 15 normally urges the ,lever 69 clockwise about its pivot 18, whereby to cause the work to be gripped between the forming jaws 13 and 14, the clockwise movement of the lever being limited by an' adjustment nut 16. The wire 63 passes between the brackets 1I and 12, and then between the jaws 13 and 14 and onto the mandrel 30. The arrangement is such that as the mandrel 38 is rotated by the driving motor I6, the wire 63 will be caused to be coiled around the mandrel at the forming station in a mannerbest illustrated in Fig. 3, the wire being drawn to the fabricating, forming or coiling station through the guiding support ped- .estalllftheilexible sheath 55, and the guide Referring further to Fig. 4, it will be seen that -there is a combined oiling and guide block carried by the carriage base 51, engageable with the mandrel just in advance of the ceiling station. 'Ihis guide block is associated with an oil reservoir 85| having a delivery spout 82 for delivering oil or other suitable lubricant onto theI mandrel wire. A valve 83 controls the delivery of the lubricant from the reservoir 8|. When the valve is in its vertical position, as illustrated in solid lines in Fig. 4, the oil or lubricant will be delivered from the spout 82. At the end of the coiling operation and as the carriages reach the end of their travel, the valve is adapted to be engaged by an abutment such as indicated at 8'4 in Fig. 1, whereby to move the valve to its dotted line position as illustrated in Fig. 4, shutting olf the supply of lubricant. i

The cutting device or cut-olf means through which the wire 63 passes before reaching `the guide pedestal 64 comprises a frame member 86 having at one end thereof a stationary shearing head as illustrated at 8l. The construction of the cutting device is bestl illustrated in Figs. 4, 7 and 8. This hea-d is provided with a plurality of openings as indicated at 88 of different size, and of different shape, if desired, to receive the appropriately sized Wires 63. CoaXially mounted with the stationary shearing head, upon a pivot 39, is a movable shearing head 9i), provided with a series of openings QI corresponding to and in alinement with the openings 88 of the stationary 'shearing head, when the parts are in normal position. The movable shearing head 90 is provided with an extension 92 formed on its end with a series of vgear teeth adapted for engagement with gear teeth formed on the end of a lever 93 pivoted as indicated at 94 on the cutter frame 86, As the lever 93 is operated, the shearing head 99 will be moved relative to the stationary head 8l whereby to effect a cutting operation upon the wire 63.

A coiled tension spring 95, Fig. l, is provided for urging the lever $9 counterclockwise as seen' in Fig'. '7 to effect such shearing operation, but normally movement of the lever is prevented by a latch lever 9S pivoted upon the stationary shearingv head as indicated at 9'! and having a notched end portion 98 engageable with a pin 99 secured to the lever S3. The structure is illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 7. At the end of the coilving operation, the end of the latch lever 9B is adapted to engage a release abutment such as indicated at IilI in Fig. l, whereby to release the lever 93 for operation. Cut-off means is thus provided for severing the'wire or metal strip being fabricated, at the end of the forming operation, such cut-off means being automatically operable as the traveling work carriage reaches a predetermined position and after a, predetermined length of work has been formed. The operating Vlever 93 for the cut-01T means is also manually operable at any time, as may be desired, upon release of the latch lever 96.

The feeding means for feeding the wire 63 to the carriages is best illustrated in Figs. l and 10. As shown, a supply drum orreel |95 supplies the wire for the upper carriage I3, Whereas a drumA or reel IE supplies the wire for the lower carriage. The feeding means for both carriages are the same, and a description ofvone will suffice for both.

Referring to the feeding means for the upper carriage i 3, it will be seen that the wire is transmitted from the supply reel to a flexible sheath Itl'l of suitable structure, preferably in the form of a wire coil or the like as best shown' in Fig. 10.

The wire 63 loosely passes through this sheath...

OneV end of the sheath is fixed to a bracket |08 'engagement with the abutment Isheath IUI loosely passes.

A rod 'IIi5 extends longitudinally of the machine bed, the rod being adapted for longitudinal shiftable movement within its supporting brackets H6 carried-by the track structure. One end of this rod adjustably carries an abutment member iI'I adapted to be engaged bo the platform H0 as it is shifted a predetermined distance to the left as seen in Figs. l and 10. The other end of the rod carries a fork H8, Fig. 2, adapted to engage the driving belt I8, and to shift the belt between the pulleys 22Y and 23. A tension spring H9 secured at one end to the platform H8 and Vat its other end to the end frame II tends to urge the platform to the right as seen in Figs. 1 and 10 against asuitable stop member carried by the machine bed, asindicated at |28. It will be noted that due to the angular or curved disposition of the sheath l'g', any pulling force upon the-Wire `53 'will tend to cause the outlet end of the sheath and the platform lm to move to the left against the action of `the spring H9.

The supply reel |05 is freely vmounted on its axis, as indicated at |2I1, and normally freely -suppiies the 'wire s3 through the flexion sheath |81 to the carriage I3. Only a relatively slight pulling force upon the Wire B3 is required to Vovercome the frictional resistance to movement of the supply drum and associated parts. This force is sufficient to move the platform I IIJ away from the stop |20, but insufficient to move the platform against the action of spring H9 into II'I. Accordingly, during normal feeding operation the platform H0 luctuatessomewhat between its abut- `ment and its stop."V This movement is insuicient to operate the control rod H5, butit tends to impart a moreuniform drag or pulling force to the wire 63 in its movement to the forming carriage. In other words, the arrangement of the feeding means is such that regardless of slight variations in force which would normally be encountered in removing the wire 63 from its supply reel, such as variations in frictional resistance in movement of the reel, or, slight snags in the position of the wire on the reel, the feeding means is so larranged that these fluctuations in resistance are compensated for and a resultant uniform frictional drag is imparted to the wire. Accordingly, the wire 63 is under uniform tension at all times in its transmission to the forming carriage, this `uniform tension insuring uniformity in the coiling orother fabricating operation being performed. The fabricated work may thus be held to a uniform size and quality. v

Should the tension required to remove the wire from the supply vreel exceed a predetermined amount, as for example if the Wire shouldv become badly snagged or otherwise jammed, the platform Il!! moves sufhciently to the left to engage the abutment member II'I of the control rod H5, thereby shifting the belt I8,`Fig. 2,'and stopping the rotation of the mandrel. It willrbe noted that this disabling of the operating mechanism takes place Withoutthe' cutting ofthe wire-63, or other permanent disorganzation of the parts, and after the diiculty in connection with the feeding of the wire has been corrected, operation may be resumed by the reverse shifting of the control rod H5.

The mode of operation of the machine is believed to be clear from what has heretofore been set forth. More specifically, a wire coiling operation is initiated by moving the carriage to the left as seen in Fig. 1, the end of the wire E3 being drawn into position and inserted in the opening 'I8 in the operating chuck 28. Movement of the control rod I5 initiates rotation of the mandrel, and the operation automatically continues until the carriage reaches the end frame, at which time the release abutments 84 and IGI automatically operate to terminate the action of the oiling means and to cut the wire 63. As the end of the wire is drawn around the mandrel into completely coiled condition, the movement of the carriage automatically stops. At all times during the forming operation the mandrel is retained from undue vibration. The feeding means yieldably operates to insure a uniform tension within the wire 63, and in the event that this tension exceeds a predetermined maximum the operating mechanism of the machine is immediately disabled. Operation may thereafter be resumed as desired. Also, it will be noted that the control rod ||5 extends the entire length of the machine so that it may be` operated by the operator lat any position.

It is to be understood that the manner of operation of both carriages I3 and |4 is the same.

In Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 a modied embodiment of the invention is illustrated. Referring to Fig. 11, in this instance fthe head frame |0a is provided Vwith separate driving motors and tion should the tension within the wire 83 exceed` a predetermined amount, switch |33 will operate to deenergize the motor. Also, if during the forming operation the supply of wire should run out, and at the end of the operation upon operation of the cutting means associated with the carriage, switch |34 will operate to deenergize the motor and stop the mandrel. It will be noted that switch |34 is located in immediate juxtaposition to the wire coiling station, so that the switch does not operate until the forming of the wirehas been substantially completed.

The machine herein shown is similar in certain respects to that shown in my copending application, Serial No. 442,347, led May 9, 1942.

Certain features of the machine shown herein, in rtheir broader aspects, are claimed in said copending application.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the specific embodiments of the invention set forth for purposes of illustration without depart- |3| for propelling the stub shafts 20a and Zla associated, respectively, With the mandrels.

`These motors are independent and are provided kwith independent energizing Y circuits. Referring to Fig. 12, in this instance the platform I |0a of the feeding mechanism is adapted upon undergoing a predetermined movement to the left, to operate an arm |32 of an electric switch |33 `arranged in the energizing circuit for its associated motor. The arrangement is such that the switch is opened when the arm |32 is shifted to the left by the platform. Also in this in- ,n stance, referring to Fig. 13, the frame member 68a of the forming means of the carriage is provided With an electric switch structure |34 controlled by the presence or absence of the wire or strip 63 to be fabricated. More particularly the member 68a is provided with a cut-away section |35 into which a spring-pressed switch arm |36 is adapted to move, awayfrom its cooperating contact |31. When the wire 63 is present, the arm |36 is maintained upwardly in engagement with the contact |31 to mainseen that the switches |33 and |34 are arranged.v in series in the circuit along with a manually operable main control switch |40. Closing of the Vswitch un, assuming switches |33 and |34 to be closed, energizes the motor |30 and causes rotation of the mandrel. During the forming opera-.1

ing, from the spirit of the invention. The invention is accordingly not to be limited to the Specific embodiments shown and described, but only as indicated in the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A metal strip forming apparatus comprising means for forming a metal strip into a series of `concentric convolutions, said means includinga member bodily shiftable axially of saidconvolutions during the forming operation, said member being shifted by the strip as it is formed, a rigid track structure for supporting said member during its shiftable movements, and cutter 2. A metal strip forming apparatus comprising an elongated rotatable mandrel, means for forming a metal strip around the mandrel in an extended series of convolutions extending helically .of the mandrel, said means including a carriage bodily shiftable axially of the mandrel during the forming operation, said carriage being shift- .edby the strip as it is formed, means including a rigid track structure for guiding the carriage in its` shiftable movements, and means automatically operable as said carriage reaches a predetermined shifted position for disabling the effectiveness of said forming means while the mandrel remains in operation.

3. A metal strip forming apparatus comprising an elongated mandrel, means for forming a.

metal strip around the mandrel in an extended series of concentric convolutions, said means including a carriage bodily shiftable axially of the mandrel during the forming operation, a rigid track structure for guiding the carriage in its shiftable movements, and cut-off ymeans automaticallir operable as the carriage reaches a predetermined position longitudinally of the mandrel for severing said strip.

4. A metal strip forming apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said cut-off means comprises a pair of relatively shiftable cutting members carried by the carriage and through which the strip is adapted to be passed, spring means tendingto relatively shift said members to cutting position, a latch for inhibiting the operation of the spring, and abutment means for disabling the latch. 5. A'metal strip forming apparatus comprising means for forming a metal strip into an extended area-.85

series of coaxial convolutions, said -f orming. means comprising a member bodily shiftabl axially .of said convolutions during .the forming operation, arigid track structure along which said'member is shifted, and .means automatically operable for disabling the effectivenessof saidforming means when the tension required .to 'transmit the. strip to the forming means exceeds .a .predetermined amount.

6. A metal strip forming apparatus comprising means for lforming a .metal strip into ,an .extended series of coaxial convolutions,` feeding means for feeding the metal strip to .the ,forming means, power means .for operating the `forming' means, and means automatically operable` for disabling the power means when the tensionfrequiredto transmit the striptothe forming means exceeds a predeterminedamount. l

7. A metal strip forming apparatus .comprising means for forming a metalstrip into .an extended series of coaxial, convolutions, .feeding means for feeding the metal strip tothe forming means, power means, connections Vbetween the power means and the formingfmeans, andmeans automatically operable for disabling saidconnections when the tension required to .transmit the strip to the forming means exceeds a predetermined amount. p -f 8. A metal strip forming apparatus vcommising means for forming -a metal strip into an extended series of coaxial convolutions, feeding means for feeding the metal strip to the forming means, power means including an electric motor for driving the forming means, and control means for deenergizing said motor, said control means being controlled by the tension required to transmit the strip to the forming means.

9. A metal strip forming apparatus comprising means for forming a metal strip into an extended series of concentric convolutions, said means including a forming member adapted to receive the strip from a source of supply and bodily shiftable axially of said convolutions during the forming operation, said member being shifted by the strip as it is formed, power means for driving said forming means, means automatically operable as said member reaches a predetermined shifted position for disabling said power means, and means for disabling the power means upon termination of the strip in its transmission to the forming member.

10. A metal strip forming apparatus comprising means for forming a metal strip into an extended series of concentric convolutions, said means including a member bodily shiftable axially of said convolutions during the forming operation, a rigid track structure for guiding said member in its shiftable movements, means automatically operable as said member reaches a predetermined shifted position for disabling the effectiveness of said forming means, and means operable during the forming operation controlled b`y the tension required to transmit the strip to the forming means for disabling the effectiveness of said forming means in the event the strip tension exceeds a predetermined amount.

11. A metal strip forming apparatus comprising means for forming a metal strip into an extended series of concentric convolutions, power means for driving said forming means, means automatically operable after a predetermined number of convolutions have been formed to disable said power means, and means operable during the forming operation and controlled by the tension required to transmit the strip to the forming means for disabling the ,power means,` in the event the.. strip tension exceeds a `predetermined amount.

12. A'metal strip'frming apparatus comprising anelongated mandrel, means for forming a metal strip around the mandrel yin an extended series .of coaxial convolutions, said means in- @lading a memberboany shiftable axiany ofthe mandrel during the forming operation, said member being shifted by the strip as it vis formed, and control meansY extendingV axially of 'the `,mandrel and substantially along the entire .length thereof lfor controll'ingjthe.starting and stopping of said 'forming means. n g 13.A'A metal'stripv .forming apparatus comprising' means for fabricatingy a metal strip into ,a predeterminedseries Aof formations, supply .means lfor the strip, feeding means for feeding Vthe strip 'fromlthe supply means to thejformingmeans, and controlmeans associated'with the feeding means for imparting a uniform vtension tothe stripregardless of 'fluctuationsin .resistance encountered in removing the strip 'from 'the supply means, said control means comprising a flexible sheath of curvedshape through Whichthe strip is adapted to be passed, and Vmeans forV yield'ably mounting one lend of .the sheathfso ,thatthe. sheath .is vshiftable in accordance` 'fth variations inthe .tension ofthestrip.v Y. *14. lAmetal strip forming apparatus comprising an .elongated mandrel, means for forming a metal strip around the mandrel, said forming means including a carriage bodily shiftable axially of the mandrel during the forming operation, supply means for the strip, feeding means for feeding the strip from the supply means to the carriage, and control means associated with said feeding means for imparting a uniform tension to the strip regardless of fluctuations in resistance encountered in withdrawing the strip from the supply means.

15. A metal strip forming apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said control means comprises a flexible sheath of curved shape through which said strip is adapted to be passed, and means for yieldably mounting one end of the sheath so that the sheath is shiftable in accordance with variations in the tension of the strip.

16. A metal strip forming apparatus comprising means for fabricating a metal strip into a predetermined series of formations, supply means for the strip, feeding means for feeding the strip from the supply means to the forming means, and control means associated with the feeding means for imparting a uniform tension to the strip regardless of fluctuations in resistance encountered in removing the strip from the supply means, said control means also being operable when the tension in the strip exceeds a predetermined amount to disable said forming means.

17. A metal strip forming apparatus comprising an elongated rotatable mandrel, means for forming a metal strip around said mandrel, said means including a carriage bodily shiftable axially of the mandrel during the forming operation, an elongated bed along which the mandrel is adapted to extend, and means carried by the bed engageable with the mandrel at predetermined points for preventing undue vibration thereof, said means being automatically shiftable to accommodate the shiftable movements of the carriage.

18. A metal strip forming apparatus comprising an elongated frame carrying an elongated mandrel, means for forminga metal 'strip around themandrel, said means includingV a, carriage shiftable axially of the frame along the mandrel during the forming operation, lubricating means carried by the carriage for lubricating the man-l drel during the shiftablemovements of the 'carriage, and abutment means xed to the frame at a predetermined position longitudinally of the mandrel for controlling rthe operation of said lubricating means. y Y

19. A metal strip forming apparatus comprising an elongated rotatable mandrel, power 'means for rotating the mandrel, means `for .forming va metal strip around the mandrel in an extended series of concentric convolutions,'said means including a carriage bodily shiftable axially of the mandrel during the forming operations, 'said carriage being shifted by the strip as it is formed,

feeding means'for feeding "the metal stripjto the 4 riage being shifted bythe strip as it is formed; feeding means for feeding the metal strip to the carriage, andA means automatically operable lfor disabling the power means upontermination'of the stripI in its transmissiontdthe carriage.

21. A metal strip forming apparatus compris ing means for forming a metal strip into apredetermined series of formations, supply means for the strip, feeding means for feeding the strip from the supply means to the forming means, a iiexible sheath of curved shape through which the stripis adapted to be passed in its transmission from the supply means to the forming means, means for xedly mounting the end of said sheath adjacent the supply means, alshiftable member adapted to be connected to the other end of said sheath, the tension of the strip being adapted to shift said member in one direction, and spring means normally tending to urge said member in the opposite direction, the movements of said member serving to equalize variations in the tension of the strip in its transmission from the sup- 'ply means to the forming means.

22. A metal strip forming apparatus as dened 'sin claim 21, wherein control means is provided for disabling the forming means, said control meansv being operatedV by the movement of said mem-ber a predetermined amount against the 'action of said spring.

' CALHOUN NORTON. 

